Taste of the Upper West Side for Hurricane Sandy - Sunday, November 11th @ 6:30PM

Re-posting verbatim from the New York Social Network e-newsletter:

Event Title: Taste of The Upper West Side for Hurricane Sandy

Over 20 local Upper West Side Restaurants are donating food to help raise money for The Catholic Charities efforts for Hurricane Sandy. Many of the shelters used have been local churches and synagogs and this money will be directed that way. Each restaurant will donate a tray of food for you to sample

They expect over 100 people from all backgrounds, races and religions to attend ages 20's -40's

$20 donation at the door includes food and beverages.

Pay cash at door or make checks payable to Holy Trinity CRC.

Restaurants Participating: -AG Kitchen -Nonna -Scaletta -Bellini -Canteen 82 -Citron -La Mirabelle -Sol Y Sambra -Bone Lick Park BBQ(honorary UWS) -High Life -Land Thai -Jacobs Pickles -Gastronomie 491 -More to come!!!

Time: 6:30 pm

Where: Holy Trinity Parish Center, 213 west 82nd between Amsterdam and Broadway

Price: $20

Copy/Print if you wish to attend

Questions? Contact Dave at dave@newyorksocialnetwork.com

Open for Business

There's much to be said about Hurricane Sandy's aftermath but one of the most important things we can do is help our neighbors, communities and cities wherever we can. Whether you choose to donate your time or money, every little bit counts. Or if you prefer to eat and drink your support for the cause, celebrate the little guys, the mom-and-pop shops, the local neighborhood pub, that Italian restaurant around the corner, in areas that need it most.

So here's my Top 5 favourite places in the East Village and Lower East Side. And I realize I am missing other parts of downtown, Brooklyn, Hoboken, Queens, Staten Island, Long Island and loads of other affected areas but that's part of the fun. Reply back with your top 5 local digs that you wish were open last week and hopefully will remain open for business.

1. Lavagna - That Italian restaurant that you wish was around every corner.

2. Idle Hands Bar - Where they know your name and the bourbon/beer with your name on it.

3. The Wayland - Roasted marrow bones, enough said.

4. Freemans - The inspiration for my first blog post, Corpse Reviver #2.

5. Caracas - Because I've been once in 8 years and I still talk about it.

Food and Drink Bloggers Unite - Tues 8/30 - 7PM @ Idle Hands Bar

I can't think of a better way to spend a Tuesday night than talking about food and drink in one of my favourite bars in the city, Idle Hands in the East Village. SeamlessWeb is throwing a party for NYC bloggers (and friends) next Tuesday, August 30th from 7PM-9PM in honor of its new site. Expect free drinks and food from Mikey's Burger and Oaxaca Taqueria and prizes for trivia winners and heck, prizes if you even show up. Do you need any more convincing?

Register here via Eventbrite:
http://seamlessnycbloggers.eventbrite.com/

Idle Hands Bar:
25 Avenue B, downstairs
Between 2nd and 3rd Sts
New York, NY 10009

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - Redefining Happy Hour

If anyone has bragging rights to the best happy hour in town, it ought to be Gyu-Kaku. We're not only talking about fab specials on their extensive drink list ($2 sake shots, $3 Sapporo & Kirin drafts, $5 sake, wines AND cocktails), Gyu-Kaku also offers an amazing array of $5 food items and 50% off their BBQ (Kobe, NY Strip, Bone-in Kalbi, etc). And by "food items", they mean the freshest yuzu snapper carpaccio, ahi tuna poke, sake steamed mussels, as well as plenty of tasty rice, noodles and salad options. The midtown east restaurant is beautifully decorated with spacious dark wood booths and tables with built-in "do-it-yourself" grills but the expert and gracious staff will serve you well. What I also love about Gyu-Kaku Midtown is that their happy hour also extends to weekend lunch - truly one of the best deals in town. I went a few months ago for Sunday lunch, we ordered too many items to remember, hopefully the photo above does some justice. I did not try their cocktails that time but plan to soon and will report back. Kanpai!

Official Gyu-Kaku Website: http://www.gyu-kaku.com/

Gyu-Kaku Midtown:
805 3rd Ave., 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10022
(212) 702-8816

Happy Hour Schedule:
Mon-Fri: 2-6PM
Mon-Thu: 9:30PM-Closing
Sat&Sun: 12-3PM

Gyu-Kaku East Village:
34 Cooper Square
New York, NY 10003
(212) 475-2989

Happy Hour Schedule:
Daily 3PM—6PM
Mon—Thu 9:30PM—Closing

Also has locations in California, Chicago, Hawaii, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia.

Empire Hotel Lobby Bar

If you're in the mood for a relaxed, swanky evening, enjoy a cocktail or two at Empire Hotel's Lobby Bar whose cocktail menu is inspired by Gossip Girl - since the hotel is now one of the characters as it was bought out by Chuck Bass. Not sure how I feel about that as I don't watch the show but they did feature a rather tasty scotch, ginger and apple cocktail that I would like to recreate. It's quite empty on a weekend night since everyone else is clamoring for their rooftop bar - but if you're in the mood for one or two after the opera or ballet, and want to check out a hotel bar, it does the trick. I should mention they also have ridiculously plush couches which will send to you heaven before your cocktail will.

Empire Hotel
44 West 63rd Street
New York, NY 10023
(212) 265-7400

Thanks to www.hotelchatter.com, please see below for their cocktail menu:

Jenny's Tartlet recipe revealed for HotelChatter:
1 ½ oz. Montecristo White Rum
2 oz. Grapefruit Juice
½ oz. Lemon Juice
½ oz. Simple Syrup
2 Sprigs Mint
Lollipop
In a mixing glass, muddle the mint with the lemon juice and simple syrup. Add all other ingredients and shake. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a lollipop.

“S” (Serena)
Zyr Vodka, Honey Water, Champagne and Lemon Pappabubbles.

“B” (Blair)
Bluecoat Gin, Blood Orange Bitters and Crystal Candy

I’m Chuck Bass
Dewar’s Scotch, Red Apple, Ginger Bites and Apple Cider

Lonely Boy (Dan)
Brooklyn Lager, Makers Mark Bourbon and Crème de Cacao

Georgina’s Mind Eraser
Vieux Carré Absinthe Wash, Don Julio Silver Tequila, Pomegranate and an Atomic Fireball

Nate’s Fickle Flings
Sagatiba Cachaça, St-Germain and Sour Blackberries

Eau de Vanessa
Grey Goose Le Poire, Pear Nectar and White Grape Juice

James Beard House Events

A few months ago, courtesy of a generous friend, I experienced one of the most sublime meals and gastronomic nights of my life. Quite a statement but I promise you, a dinner at the James Beard House in Greenwich Village is a magical time. I attended the "Wine Lovers Dinner" presented by Paul Kulik, celebrated Nebraskan chef of The Boiler Room in Omaha along with Jesse Becker, Master Sommelier. The evening began in the greenhouse with delectable passed hors d'oeuvres and a delicious "old-fashioned inspired" cocktail made with Bonal (a complex aperitif wine), prosecco and orange peel - and I use quotation marks b/c trust me, it tasted exactly like an old-fashioned. The hors d'oeuvres: wagyu beef navel pastrami with marrow sabayon on brioche, house 18 month prosciutto, corned beef tongue with puffed crawfish & horseradish, and sweet potato churros and house cured salmon roe. After an hour, and mind you it is a bit like an opera so expect to stay 3-4 hours, we ascended into the dining room and took our places at immaculately laid tables with champagne in James Beard's very own living room. I ended up going by myself and was wondering whether I might be seated at a table for 1, however everyone is seated at circular tables of 10 so be prepared to mingle - and what better company than a bunch of food and wine lovers! We then began a six-course meal with fabulous wine pairings and Jesse Becker narrated with each offering. I've included the full food and wine pairing menu below - it was just divine. Right before dessert, Chef Kulik and team came out to thundering applause from his happy diners and stayed to answer questions from an admiring crowd. Truly, it was a night to remember and thankfully, there will be many more nights to come. The James Beard Foundation offers 20 events each month and are open to the general public. Discounted prices are available to members.

For a list of upcoming events, click here.

For membership details, click here.

For the amazing meal I had, which should have been renamed Pork Lovers' Dinner (which is why I deliberately chose this one), please see below:

Wine Lovers' Dinner at James Beard with Paul Kulik and Jesse Becker
March 30, 2011

Dinner Menu:
House Charcuterie
dried chorizo, finocchiona, bresaola
Vigna Dogarina "Oro", Prosecco, Veneto, Italy NV


Araucana Chicken Egg Raviolo
shadowbrook farms chevre, smoked ham, claytonia
Rudi Pichler, Gruner Veltliner, Federspiel, Wachau, Austria 2009

TD Niche Red Wattle Pork Belly
royal red shrimp, pea shoots, cherry belle radish
Movia, Sauvignon Blanc, Brda, Slovenia 2008

Nebraska "Ossabaw" Pork Loin
cheeks, sunchokes, oregon yellowfoot mushrooms, obtuse du doubs carrots
J. Hoffstatter, Lagrein, Steinraffler, Alto Adige, Italy 2002

Slow Roasted House Red Wattle Coppa
lemongrass sausage, iowa flageolets, minutina
Tardieu-Laurent, Gigondas, Rhone Valley France 2008

Shadowbrook Farm Goat Milk Panna Cotta
strawberry-rhubarb macaron, coffee froth
Cultiva Coffee Roasters coffee, Chemex-brewed, Lincoln, Nebraska

American Craft Beer Week: May 16-22

Hello again folks! The blog is back and if you haven't already heard, this week is American Craft Beer Week! There are over 800 events in all 50 states so check out the official page here.

NYC-ers - Beer Menus has compiled a ton of great events for us as well so be sure to check out this list on where to go and what to drink this week: http://www.beermenus.com/events

Cheers!

Luzzo's

In the mood for thin crust pizza with fresh ingredients in a rustic setting? Stop by Luzzo's in the East Village or check out their new location also in Chelsea. Met up with some friends a few weeks ago and were seated in the basement dining area which makes acoustics somewhat difficult especially if you're surrounded by two children's birthday parties, but order a bottle of red stat and nosh your teeth into a few slices of bruschetta, insalata di rucola (arugula, shaved grana, cherry tomatoes, delicious vinaigrette) and order a few large pies (note they don't do half-and-half anymore) so we ordered the Tartufata (tomato, mozzerella, truffle oil) featured above, and the Piazza Michele (prosciutto and mushroom). Deliciouso!

Luzzo's
http://luzzosnyc.com
211 First Avenue (b/tw 12th and 13th Sts.)
New York, NY
(212) 473-7447

La Boite en Bois

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of seeing Carmen and had a somewhat difficult experience of choosing a restaurant that had the following criteria: w/in walking-in-heels distance of Lincoln Center, quiet & intimate ambiance and either French, American or Italian food. After some serious menupages.com perusing, I found La Boite en Bois and booked a reservation tout de suite. La Boite en Bois is indeed a wooden box - I arrived wearing heels (a modest 2 inches which put me at 6'1) and I felt like I was in Honey I Blew Up the Kid. The space looks like a homey French country kitchen "made for ants" though despite the cramped seating and very low ceiling, the food absolutely makes up for any initial discomfort. My friend and I elected the prix-fixe menu: we both had superb arugula, endive, goat cheese & beet salads with that classic tangy lemony vinaigrette to start, followed by the roast chicken with potato gratin and I the perfectly prepared horseradish crusted salmon filet with a buttery saffron sauce with again perfectly sauteed bright spinach greens and wild rice. Service was slow for us but not for others so we wolfed down our tres delicieux creme brulee and creamy ricotta cheesecake and happily headed off to hear the Habanera.

La Boite en Bois
www.laboitenyc.com
75 West 68th Street at Columbus Ave.
New York, NY 10023
(212) 874-2705

Artichoke Basilles Pizzeria: A gigantic slice of heaven

If you think jumbo slice is good (at 3am post the Reef in DC good), sink your teeth into undeniably one of the best slices in the city. Imagine a delicious, perfectly textured crust, deep-dish style but still has a good bite to it...then slather on one of the best artichoke (or spinach & artichoke, or sicilian, or crab) concoctions (am guessing onion, garlic, oregano, butter) followed by an extra thick bubbling layer of parmesan and mozzarella and you have, quite honestly, one of the most divine slices of New York pie. Artichoke Basilles Pizzeria is at 328 E. 14th Street between 1st Ave and 2nd Ave. They recently opened a Chelsea location at 114 10th Ave @ W. 17th Street which I am thrilled to be going to tomorrow night, so will take pix and report back but in the meantime, check out their story here: http://www.artichokepizza.com/